NEW AND COMMITTED: The KMA pro-tem committee posing with Wong (seated centre) after the press conference.
KUCHING: The newly established Kuching Marathon Association (KMA) are set to organise what is building up to be the biggest marathon in Sarawak in the second half of next year.
The association are anticipating a minimum of 5,000 participants to sign up for the Kuching Marathon 2014 which will have categories for 5km, 10km and 21km.
“Our vice president Philip Chua has been appointed as event director of Kuching Marathon to head the organising committee which will be set up next month,” said KMA pro-tem president Wong Chen Yi in a press conference yesterday.
Assisting Chua as deputy event director is the association secretary Liew Tang Chieh.
Wong said this decision was reached at during the association’s first executive committee meeting held at a local Indian restaurant in Medan Pelita yesterday.
“All the committee members are excited, fully committed and prepared to run the marathon,” he added. “We will announce details to the public including registration of the run and other administrative details soon.”
KMA was registered with the Sports Commissioner of Sarawak on June 26 this year and is the only sports body for running and marathon at the divisional level established in the state.
Its main objectives are to act as the representative sports body for running and marathon in Kuching, create awareness of the importance of the laws and rules concerning the marathon and running, organise or assist in hosting competitions and promote the development of marathon and running at grass roots level.
KMA also aim to promote a healthy lifestyle among the people in Kuching through the sport of marathon and running.
Wong said the setting up of the association was very timely in view of the growing population of runners in Kuching.
“KMA thus provides a platform to gather and pool the strength and resources of every one toward building a society of healthier life quality through running activities, which are one of the simplest and convenient ways of exercise,” he said.
KMA’s other pro-tem vice president is Bong Kuet Fong while the assistant secretary is Siaw Yong Chuang.
Treasurer and assistant treasurer are Chong Siaw Hian and Chen Chung Mang while the committee members are Jeremy Leong, Teng Chin Huat, Charles Chua, Hycinathier Chai and Leo Bi Voon.
Further enquiries concerning the KMA can be made via e-mail to kuchingmarathon@gmail.com or call to Liew at 019-8865666.